A few days before the event, the Maratona dles Dolomites is introducing something new: the Supermaratona. A challenge where you tick off all 13 passes that have ever been part of the course in one ride. The Supermaratona is not (yet) a separate distance, but a so-called 'Challenge' that you ride entirely on your own.

© Sportograf

Five routes

In its rich history (dating back to 1987), the Maratona has had exactly five routes. We have previously listed those on a row. The route of the Supermaratona tackles all thirteen mountain passes in one ride. The numbers: 285 km with 8400 meters of elevation. So not suitable if you want to Everesten, although that would not have been possible anyway since in that case you always have to climb the same mountain.

© Maratona dles Dolomites

A keeper?

The idea is that you ride the route from July 15 on your own. So it is not an organized race, nor is it an extra distance during the event, like the Ultrafondo at the Tour des Stations. Judging by the theme of this year's Maratona ("mutatio," change), you could just imagine that the Superfondo might one day become just that.

That chance, however, does not seem likely. In an earlier interview, Maratona founder Eduardo Tavella explained that regions far from the starting city have little interest in the Maratona. Also, emergency services cannot get there quickly. Exactly these were the reasons for finally choosing the current course at the time. Still, the organization has hinted at changes several times on social media this year. 

As we are used to from the Maratona, they themselves remain rather vague about the how and why: "The Supermaratona celebrates history and change, reflecting the Buddhist concept of Anatta and the continual evolution of human life."

Uncertainty about the race on July 7

Next Sunday it will finally be time for the real Maratona. There were quite a few concerns and uncertainties this year. Indeed, last week's severe weather in the Dolomites also caused some damage. The Passo Duran (once in the Maratona route) is therefore closed for the time being. The current course fortunately remained unaffected, and the weather forecast for Sunday also looks pretty good: a maximum of about 21 degrees with only a small chance of some light rain.